Posted on 05/11/2012 12:25:01 PM PDT by robowombat
China told its citizens Thursday they were not safe in the Philippines and its state media warned of war, as a month-long row over rival claims in the South China Sea threatened to spill out of control.
Chinese travel agencies announced they had suspended tours to the Philippines, under government orders, and the embassy in Manila advised its nationals already in the country to stay indoors ahead of planned protests.
"Avoid going out at all if possible, and if not, to avoid going out alone. If you come across any demonstrations, leave the area, do not stay to watch," the embassy's advisory said.
The safety alerts came as government-controlled media in China warned the country was prepared to go to war to end the stand-off over Scarborough Shoal -- small islands in the South China Sea that both nations claim as their own.
"No matter how willing we are to discuss the issue, the current Philippine leadership is intent on pressing us into a corner where there is no other option left but the use of arms," the China Daily said in an editorial.
"Manila is living in a fantasy world if it mistakes our forbearance for timidity."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was committed to a peaceful resolution.
But the editorial echoed other warnings in recent weeks in the state-run media that China was prepared to use its massive military advantage to crush the Philippines' challenge for the shoal.
The two nations have had non-military vessels stationed at the shoal since April 8 in an effort to assert their sovereignty to the area.
The dispute began when Philippine authorities detected Chinese ships fishing there. They attempted to arrest the crew, but were blocked by Chinese surveillance vessels that were quickly deployed to the area.
The Philippines insists its claims to the area are backed by international law, as the shoal is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
The shoal sits about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The nearest major Chinese landmass is 1,200 kilometres northwest of the shoal, according to Filipino navy maps.
But China claims virtually all of the South China Sea as its territory, even waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other Asian countries.
Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim parts of the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas resources. The rival claims have for decades made the waters one of Asia's potential military flashpoints.
The Philippines, which admits to having an extremely weak military, has repeatedly said it wants to solve the stand-off over the shoal through diplomatic means.
But it has also said it secured a pledge from the United States, its main military ally, to protect the Philippines from attacks in the South China Sea.
A coalition of Filipino activist groups is planning to hold rallies at Chinese embassies around the world on Friday to support the Philippines in the dispute.
Organisers are hoping thousands of people will attend what they expect to be the biggest of the rallies, in Manila, and the Chinese embassy's safety alert was circulated chiefly to warn its nationals about that protest.
But Jackson Gan, a Filipino-Chinese businessman who is one the rally's organisers, said there was no need for such a warning because the protest would not target individuals and there had been no inciting of violence.
"This is going to be peaceful. No burning of Chinese flags, just singing of patriotic songs and making our presence felt," Gan told AFP.
Philippine foreign department spokesman Raul Hernandez also said Chinese nationals were in no danger of being attacked because of the diplomatic tensions.
"The Philippines remains a safe and welcoming country," he told AFP, adding Friday's protesters would not target Chinese people.
"There is nothing for our Chinese friends to be apprehensive about regarding this protest action."
Seems Obamas midas touch is just bring peace out everywhere.
So what did China do to the Philippines that the latter finally said enough?
enough => “enough”
I think they are little “short” on manpower.
So if war should break out between China and the Philippines, do they expect the United States to come to the aid of the Philippines? What if China can afford to spend more on warfare than the U.S.A. can? That’s how the U.S.A. won the Cold War against the Soviet Union.
Let the Phillipines fend for themselves. Not one drop of American blood for them.
Yes, excellent point. Combine this article with this one posted just before: ‘China’s CNOOC starts deepwater drilling’ and one gets a clear idea of China’s strategy and its feelings of regional invulnerability. Incidentally the Japanese also claimed control over all the off shore reefs and islands in the South China Sea prior to Dec 1941. That was for military operational reasons. The Chinese have amuch longer meditated and more sophisticated strategy in mind. This is the start of the territorial expansion of the PRC into the the south sea ocean region. If I were the Russians I would be very interested in keeping the Han people from immigrating into eastern Siberia and the Pacific region of Russia. The Chinese will make the security problems with the Muzzies look like child’s play.
For this reason alone, I’d support some U.S. sabre rattling on the Philippines behalf
This Chinese demarche with flipland, and it is a demarche, sets the stage for an eventual confrontation over Taiwan. There is a thousand miles of ocean between Taiwan and Japan and the PRC is going to appear in those waters in increasing strength. There are also a number of bits of land and reefs in those waters that they will claim as theirs once the PRC fleet is powerful enough to risk a PRC-US/Jap confrontation. Mark my words a collision as potentially great as the US Japan one from 1937 on is brewing in the western Pac.
Australians would be wise to cultivate an alliance with India.
American Leftists living in La La Land are in for a nasty awakening when they wake up and realize that they are Chinese slaves. Those who can't get over their fixation on European/Amerian racism will have an additional frisson when they encounter Asian--especially Chinese--racism.
American Leftists are stupid. Anyone who empowers or even respects them and their agenda is stupid.
Australians would be wise to cultivate an alliance with India.
American Leftists living in La La Land are in for a nasty awakening when they wake up and realize that they are Chinese slaves. Those who can't get over their fixation on European/Amerian racism will have an additional frisson when they encounter Asian--especially Chinese--racism.
American Leftists are stupid. Anyone who empowers or even respects them and their agenda is stupid.
The Philippine Navy is much to speak off. Fortunately for them though, the Chinese Navy isn't either, especially if considered for the objective of projecting power. So, I'm thinking this is just a bunch of noise by both. However, China is working very hard on building up a blue water navy so to be capable of playing offense whenever it chooses - stay tuned....
What you said.
Mark my words a collision as potentially great as the US Japan one from 1937 on is brewing in the western Pac.-
You’re exactly right.
“Peace Through Strength” no longer applies. Or soon won’t apply.
Note the article ‘Chinese cities coming to America’ for another arm of the Chinese hydra. Also note that some think this phenomenon is both hunky and dory.
Throughout history great nations have experienced great tragedies. The United States has been spared so far.
We are being set up for the greatest military and economic “hit” in world history. IMO
The fat, spoiled kid is in for a rude spanking and nasty diet.
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